Huge crowds of rowing fans will converge in Putney this weekend to watch the final of the 2017 Head of the River Race.

Thousands are expected to descend on the town centre on Saturday to watch around 360 boats and 3,200 rowers take part in the event.

In a release the council said: “With so many boat trailers plus a big crowd of spectators all gathering on Putney Embankment it means that parking spaces there have to be suspended.”

The suspension runs from 8am to 8pm on Saturday, March 25, and motorists who park their cars in the area overnight will need to move them before the deadline.

The quarter mile course, which takes around 20 minutes, starts in Mortlake and finishes at Putney Bridge, with the first boats setting off at 2.15pm.

Putney has long been associated with rowing and is home to 20 clubs, with this particular race dating back to 1926.

Residential roads linking Putney Embankment with the Lower Richmond Road will also be closed to all traffic on Saturday apart from residents.

For more information on the race go to www.horr.co.uk